11-30-2023, 09:29 PM
Last Saturday
After realising that her grandfather was still alive, Princess Leila had turned tail and run away in shock. She knew the gravity of the discovery, and had suddenly been overcome by fear that Hashemi would know that she knew, and come for her. So, she’d run straight out of the palace, Skinny beside her, and gone to her Kerlian contact’s property, where she swiftly threw up violently into a bucket.
The Kerlian had calmed down the eleven-year-old, who had been sobbing and speaking so fast that the Kerlian could not work out what she was talking about at all. The Kerlian had tucked Leila into a bed and waited for the girl to sleep it off. Meanwhile, she’d checked in with her own superiors, and patiently brewed a cup of tea.
By the time Leila woke up, the Kerlian herself was almost falling asleep, and she had taken to reading a pile of Lehvantian literature she’d acquired at a local bookstore now owned by a cat whose name translated roughly to “Fluffles” (and his female human).
“My grandfather is alive,” Leila said upon waking up.
The Kerlian blinked. “What?”
“My grandfather is alive.”
“What!?” she shot to her feet, dropping her book on the floor and almost tripping over her feet in her hurry to get directly in front of Leila. “Are you being serious? Your paternal grandfather?”
“My dad’s dad, yes. Chief Advisor Hashemi has him tied up and locked in the attic. I don’t understand. I mean, I kind of understand. I just don’t want to.”
“Holy shit,” the Kerlian said in English. Leila understood fine well.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “What do we do?”
“Um…” the Kerlian hesitated, chewing her lip. “I need to make some calls. Did Hashemi see you go into the attic?”
“No, but his cats did,” Leila replied.
“Despite what your father says, cats are not good spies. Nevertheless, there could have been hidden cameras, or perhaps the cameras have been planted on the cats. That would account for a number of discrepancies in this cat business,” the Kerlian thought aloud. “You shouldn’t go back. If he knows that you know, he’ll kill you. Um, shit, I’m not meant to…”
“I know,” Leila replied. “I know he’d… you don’t need to protect me. I know.”
“Okay,” the Kerlian said. “Okay, so this… this place should be safe, but we should move soon. Okay… look, I need to make calls. Stay here, and do not answer the door to anyone, okay?”
“Yes,” Leila nodded, sitting back down and letting Skinny jump onto her lap. “Yes.”
After realising that her grandfather was still alive, Princess Leila had turned tail and run away in shock. She knew the gravity of the discovery, and had suddenly been overcome by fear that Hashemi would know that she knew, and come for her. So, she’d run straight out of the palace, Skinny beside her, and gone to her Kerlian contact’s property, where she swiftly threw up violently into a bucket.
The Kerlian had calmed down the eleven-year-old, who had been sobbing and speaking so fast that the Kerlian could not work out what she was talking about at all. The Kerlian had tucked Leila into a bed and waited for the girl to sleep it off. Meanwhile, she’d checked in with her own superiors, and patiently brewed a cup of tea.
By the time Leila woke up, the Kerlian herself was almost falling asleep, and she had taken to reading a pile of Lehvantian literature she’d acquired at a local bookstore now owned by a cat whose name translated roughly to “Fluffles” (and his female human).
“My grandfather is alive,” Leila said upon waking up.
The Kerlian blinked. “What?”
“My grandfather is alive.”
“What!?” she shot to her feet, dropping her book on the floor and almost tripping over her feet in her hurry to get directly in front of Leila. “Are you being serious? Your paternal grandfather?”
“My dad’s dad, yes. Chief Advisor Hashemi has him tied up and locked in the attic. I don’t understand. I mean, I kind of understand. I just don’t want to.”
“Holy shit,” the Kerlian said in English. Leila understood fine well.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “What do we do?”
“Um…” the Kerlian hesitated, chewing her lip. “I need to make some calls. Did Hashemi see you go into the attic?”
“No, but his cats did,” Leila replied.
“Despite what your father says, cats are not good spies. Nevertheless, there could have been hidden cameras, or perhaps the cameras have been planted on the cats. That would account for a number of discrepancies in this cat business,” the Kerlian thought aloud. “You shouldn’t go back. If he knows that you know, he’ll kill you. Um, shit, I’m not meant to…”
“I know,” Leila replied. “I know he’d… you don’t need to protect me. I know.”
“Okay,” the Kerlian said. “Okay, so this… this place should be safe, but we should move soon. Okay… look, I need to make calls. Stay here, and do not answer the door to anyone, okay?”
“Yes,” Leila nodded, sitting back down and letting Skinny jump onto her lap. “Yes.”
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax